Nobby's woodpile

It was a member's day down on the KESR today, so we took the opportunity to visit parts of the railway not open to visitors. We enjoyed a full English breakfast in the cafe before we started then lined up for a short footplate ride along the platform up towards the Headcorn headshunt travelling on a section of line that is rarely seen.

Then we visited the wonderful Wealden Pullman set to see the new addition to the fleet Aries, in it's derelict state alongside its restored sisters Theodora and Barbara and kitchen car Diana. The team are well on the way to raising the £100,000 need to restore the car back to it's former glory and add to the superb fleet that make up the Belle train.

Then it was on the train for a ride to Bodiam and back, stopping off to visit Rolvenden engine shed and yard to look at the locos at close quarters and see the repair and restoration work going on. Particularly impressive was the rebuilding of 4253 which is happening inside a ramshackle shanty to the side of the yard. To restore this loco the team had to build their accommodation first then start work on the engine. Today's shot is of an old pot stove, obviously cared for by Nobby, one of two keeping the place (relatively) warm. This reminded me of Nic Jones's song "Little Pot Stove"

Two of the other shots are inside the loco she where USA tank is undergoing restoration, surrounded by an incredible amount of clutter. The third is of the recently overhauled Pannier Tank, one of my favourite engines on the railway which is about to re-enter service. Well done to the team that turned around the 10 year overhaul so quickly. It didn't seem that long ago when I recorded the last opperational day of the loco.